Konoha, Hokage office.
Tsunade was sitting behind his desk, tapping his fingers lightly on the tabletop, making a monotonous and rhythmic sound.
In front of them, Naruto, Sakura, and Hinata have just finished reporting and are standing side by side in front of the desk with different expressions.
Naruto lowered his head, like a child who had done something wrong, and occasionally glanced at Tsunade's face.
Sakura looked solemn, his hands hanging by his sides, his fingertips slightly tightened.
Hinata stood at the very edge, staring at the ground without saying a word.
There are four people Kakashi, Shino, Shikamaru, and Sai standing in the office.
They had just returned from the battlefield of the Sky Ninja naval fleet, and before they were dusted off, they were called here together.
Tsunade's eyes swept across several people's faces and finally landed on Naruto.
"Four-Tails."
Her voice was calm, but anyone who knew her well knew the emotions underlying this calmness.
"It's out of control again."
Naruto's head is lower.
"I'm sorry, Tsunade mother-in-law... I..."
"I didn't ask you to apologize."
Tsuna Teuchi interrupted him, his tone still calm, but with an unquestionable majesty.
"I need to know what happened."
Naruto gritted his teeth and told exactly what happened at that time.
From the appearance of Zero-Tails, to the provocation, from Ning Xue to Ice Release, to the complete rampage of Nine-Tails Chakra in his body.
He didn't hide anything and told the truth.
There was silence in the office.
Kakashi leaned against the wall, closed the <Make-Out Paradise> in his hand, and narrowed his exposed eye slightly, wondering what he was thinking.
Shikamaru folded his hands on his chest, frowned, and his brain was running rapidly.
Shino remained expressionless, just adjusted his sunglasses and remained silent.
Tsunade was silent for a long time after listening.
Then, she spoke.
"The man wearing the mask... you said he is an acquaintance of Sasuke?"
Naruto nodded.
"Yeah. Sasuke calls him Fujiwara. He also uses Ice Release."
Tsunade's brows wrinkled slightly.
Ice Release.
Kekkei Genkai of Kirigakure.
But as far as she knew, the ninjas who owned Ice Release were almost extinct in Shinobi World.
Who is that person...?
Tsunade closed his eyes and rubbed his eyebrows.
After a moment of silence.
"I understand."
She opened her eyes and glanced at everyone present.
"I will send someone to investigate this matter. Please step back first."
Everyone looked at each other, nodded, turned around and walked out.
Naruto walked to the door, suddenly stopped and looked back at Tsunade.
"Tsunade Mother-in-law..."
"Huh?"
"Sasuke He... really can't come back?"
Tsunade looked at him, looking at the complicated emotions surging in those blue eyes, and was silent for a moment.
Then, she sighed softly.
"That depends on him."
Naruto gritted his teeth, said nothing more, turned around and walked out.
The door is closed.
In the office, only Tsunade and Shizune were left holding Tonton behind them.
She sat there, motionless, her fingers unconsciously stroking the pen on the table.
When Shizune behind him saw this, he also showed a hint of worry, but did not bother him.
After a long time, she picked up a pen and took out a piece of letter paper from the drawer.
The pen tip hung on the paper and paused for a moment.
Then, she began to write.
"Jiraiya personally..."
The letter is very long.
From Naruto's mission, to Nine-Tails's rampage, from that mysterious white-haired ninja, to Sasuke's appearance.
She wrote very carefully and didn't miss every detail.
After she finished writing, she folded the letter paper and put it in an envelope.
"Shizune."
Shizune heard this and immediately spoke out.
"At, Lady Tsunade."
"Send this letter to Jiraiya."
"Yes".
She put down Tonton and started to deal with it immediately.
Tsunade leaned back on the chair, looked at the ceiling, and exhaled a long breath.
Naruto...
Don't let anything happen.
The screen changes.
Konoha, Commercial Street.
Kakashi came out of the Hokage building and walked slowly along the street.
The sky has darkened, and the shops on both sides of the street have turned on their lights. The warm yellow light shines on the ground, dispelling the chill of the night.
He walked to the door of a bookstore, stopped, and took a look at the new books displayed inside through the glass display window.
Then, he took out the book <Make-Out Paradise> that Naruto brought back last time from his pocket, flipped through a few pages, and closed it again.
"Lord Jiraiya..."
He whispered to himself in a low voice, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.
"I've already read the book you wrote. When will a new book be released?"
No one answered him.
He put away the book and continued walking forward.
Turning a corner, two familiar figures walked towards me.
"Kakashi-senpai."
"Good evening."
Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao walked side by side. They were wearing casual clothes and looked like they had just finished a date.
"Hey, Hayate, Yugao."
Kakashi raised his hand and said hello lazily.
"A date?"
Gao Feng coughed twice, and an imperceptible blush appeared on his pale face.
"Ahem... it's not a date. It's just... eating together."
Yugao stood beside him, looking at Kakashi expressionlessly, but there was a subtle warning in his eyes.
Kakashi wisely did not ask any more questions, waved his hand and continued walking forward.
"Then I'll leave first. You guys eat slowly."
Hayate and Yugao nodded and passed by him.
Kakashi walked some distance and looked back.
The backs of the two people have disappeared at the street corner.
He withdrew his gaze and continued walking towards home.
Not long after, he opened the door and walked into the small but tidy room.
He didn't turn on the light, just walked to the bed and sat down.
There is a picture frame on the bedside table.
In the photo frame is a yellowed photo.
In the photo, four boys and girls are standing.
Obito, Lin, he, and...
Minato-sensei.
Kakashi looked at the photo and was silent for a long time.
Then, he sighed softly.
"It's really bad..."
He murmured to himself, his voice very soft, as if only he could hear it.
"That kid Naruto... is just as impulsive as Obito.
Nine-Tails's power... is becoming more and more unstable."
He paused, stretched out his hand, and gently touched the photo.
"Minato-sensei... Tell me, what should I do?"
No one answered him.
There was only the moonlight outside the window and a fleeting green watermelon.
"Kakashi! Let's duel."
"Tired?"
the other side.
The entrance of the barbecue restaurant.
Five people, Naruto, Sakura, Hinata, Shino, and Shikamaru, stood at the door, waiting for others to arrive.
"Where are the teeth?"
Naruto looked around, his tone a little impatient.
"Why haven't you come yet?"
"It should be here soon."
Shikamaru yawned, crossed his arms, and leaned against the wall.
"Choji and Ino too."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a rush of footsteps in the distance.
"Coming, coming--!"
Ya rushed out from the street corner, followed by Akamaru, one man and one dog, panting.
"Sorry, sorry! I was delayed on the way!"
Followed closely by Choji and Ino.
Choji was holding a bag of potato chips in his hand and was stuffing it into his mouth, speaking vaguely.
"I'm here...Naruto It's your treat."
"Why should I invite you?"
"Because you called us."
"... Okay."
A group of people walked into the barbecue restaurant in a lively manner and sat down by the window.
Sai stood at the door of the store and did not go in.
"Sai, don't you want to eat?"
Sakura looked back at him.
Sai shook his head, with that iconic fake smile hanging on his lips.
"No. I still have things to deal with. Enjoy your meal."
After saying that, he turned around and left, quickly disappearing into the night.
Naruto looked at his back and frowned slightly.
"That guy... is always mysterious."
"Leave him alone."
Shikamaru waved his hand and picked up the menu.
"Let's order."
Naruto withdrew his gaze and didn't think any more.
Deep underground.
Root's headquarters.
Sai Along the dark corridor, he came to a heavy wooden door and stopped.
"Come in."
An old and deep voice came from inside the door.
Sai pushed the door open and entered.
In the office where the electricity bill has not been paid, only a few candles are barely lighting up.
Danzo was sitting behind the table, with his exposed single eye looking at Sai coldly.
"Back."
"Yes."
Sai knelt down on one knee and lowered his head.
"How was the mission accomplished?"
Sai reported everything he saw and heard in Sky Ninja Ruins.
From the resurrection of Zero-Tails, to the conspiracy of Shinnō, from the mysterious white-haired ninja, to the rampage of Naruto Nine-Tails Chakra.
He didn't add any exaggeration or concealment, he just told the truth.
Danzo was silent for a long time after listening.
His one eye flickered on and off in the candlelight, like a poisonous snake lurking in the dark, thinking about something.
"Naruto...Four-Tails..."
He repeated in a low voice, his tone was calm, and no emotion could be heard.
"Nine-Tails's power is becoming more and more unstable."
Sai still lowered his head and said nothing.
And Danzo stood up, looked at the map behind him, and said slowly.
"Nine-Tails is the most important weapon of Konoha. There can be no mistakes."
His voice was very soft, but it carried an unquestionable majesty.
"But if the weapon is out of control, it will hurt itself."
He turned around and looked at Sai.
"You did a good job. Stand down."
"Yes."
Sai stood up, bowed and exited.
The door is closed.
Danzo was the only person left in the room.
He stood there in silence for a long time.
Then, he raised his hand and patted it.
"Come out."
In the darkness, a figure slowly walked out.
An unfamiliar face with short brown hair and a tanuki mask.
Yamato.
"Master Danzo."
Danzo looked at him, a cold light flashed in his one eye.
"Come with me."
Yamato didn't ask where to go or what to do.
He just lowered his head and responded calmly.
"Yes."